The Sacrifice Most Pleasing to God

7. If, therefore, when you present your offering on the altar, you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift at the foot of the altar and go first to be reconciled with your brother, and afterward, return to offer your gift. (Mt. 5:23-24)

8.  When  Jesus said, “Go  first to  be  reconciled with your brother before presenting your offering at the altar,” he is teaching that the sacrifice most pleasing to the Lord is the sacrificing of one’s resentment; that before presenting oneself to God in order to be forgiven, it is necessary to have forgiven, and that if a wrong has been committed against any brother or sister, it is necessary to have repaired it. Only then will the offering be pleasing, because it will come from a heart purified of every evil thought. Jesus materializes this precept because the Jews were used to offering material sacrifices. He had to adapt his words to their customs. Christians do not offer material gifts; they offer a spiritualized sacrifice, but the precept thereby takes on an even greater import. They offer their soul to God and that soul must be purified.  Entering the temple of the Lord, they must leave behind every sentiment  of hatred and animosity,  and every  evil thought against their brother or sister. Only then will their prayer be taken by the angels to the feet of the Eternal One. This is what Jesus is teaching by these words: Leave your offering at the foot of the altar and go first to be reconciled with your brother or sister if you want to be pleasing to the Lord.